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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Yanece Cotto, Program Coordinator at PowerPlay NYC
8:08:07
ยท
153 sec
Yanece Cotto, Program Coordinator at PowerPlay NYC, testified about the importance of youth mental health programs and urged for increased funding for STAR CGI. They shared personal experiences and highlighted the organization's work in empowering young women, particularly Black women, across New York City.
- PowerPlay NYC serves over 1,000 youth, focusing on sports mentorship and leadership development
- The organization is facing funding challenges due to shifts in national DEI priorities
- Cotto requested restoration and enhancement of STAR CGI funding to $2 million, with PowerPlay's portion being $600,000
Yanece Cotto
8:08:07
Good evening Chairman Lee and Chairman Schulman and the committee members.
8:08:12
My name is Yanis Kato, I use theythem pronouns and I'm the program coordinator for partnerships and STAR CGI PowerPlay NYC.
8:08:20
I'm also born and raised New Yorker that struggled with mental health issues throughout my entire teenage years.
8:08:27
So, I am walking testimonial of the impact of programs like these because I'm still here.
8:08:33
As a program coordinator at PowerPlay NYC as well as a former community center assistant director and classroom teacher, I have seen firsthand how our youth are showing up with increasing mental health needs.
8:08:45
They're navigating trauma, isolation, and anxiety in a world that often is are often seeking support and having their struggles and the severity of those struggles overlooked.
8:08:55
Through our work, we provide not only community and social emotional support but also mentorship and civic engagement opportunities that allow them to heal, find direction, and thrive.
8:09:06
However, our work is at risk.
8:09:07
Nearly 50% of our funding comes from federal sources now threatened by shifts in national DEI priorities.
8:09:14
This year alone, we lost a $25,000 foundation grant intended for black girls pulled abruptly due to these changes.
8:09:22
We cannot rely on unstable funding while the need for action to help the help answer the call of our youth's needs.
8:09:31
Power play empowers over a thousand youth, specifically young women, specifically black women across all five boroughs with sports mentorship, leadership development and also we serve as a lead agency for STAR CGI, a coalition of 10 non profits like Power Play and the Armory Foundation which reaches more than 6,000 youth annually.
8:09:54
Together, we create a safe affirming space where young people especially girls of color can build confidence, tenacity and community as you see before you.
8:10:03
We urge you to fully restore and enhance STAR CGI funding to 2,000,000, power plays portion being 600,000 and this would ensure we can continue to serve, save lives, and hopefully expand our reach to communities like District 16 where the need is the greatest.
8:10:21
In this moment, we have the power to change how youth is supported in this city.
8:10:25
When we invest in youth during a time of rising fascism, we're investing in the possibility of a brighter future of the city, the city that we all dream of.
8:10:35
So, thank you for your time and continued support and I'm very proud of my students.
Lynn Schulman
8:10:40
I'm very we're very proud of them too.